Outboard motor support



Sept, 22, 1959 Filed May 13, 1957 ARAA.I EVVIS ET'AL OUTBOARD MOTOR SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /wwf THE/P ATTORNEYS pt. 22, 1959 A. A. LEWIS Em 2,905,132

OUTBOARD MOTOR SUPPORT Filed May 13, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 66 G7 65 F I as a I 11 I2 1 g i3 25 23 4O 1 .INVENTOR. ALF/FED A. LEW/S Y STANLEY SMITH St W u $4 THE /R A T TOPNEVS United States Patent OUTBOARD MOTOR SUPPORT Application .May 13, 1957, Serial No. 658,793

6 Claims. {CL 115-41) This invention relates to improvements in motor supports and more particularly to an outboard motor support.

One object of this invention is to provide a simple yet effective manner of securing an outboard motor to a boat for movement and securing in either of two positions relative to the same. In this connection the device of the present invention consists of two anchoring elements; one secured to the transom of a boat and the other secured to the bottom of the boat along the keel line thereof; and a third element consisting of an arm mounted for swinging movement into anchoring engagement with one or the other of the two anchoring elements.

Another object of this .invention is to provide a support for an outboard motor for swinging the motor between effective position at the stern of a boat and ineffective position within the boat proper.

Another object is to provide an articular motor support with means for manipulating the same between one and the other of its two positions relative to a boat.

Yet another object is to provide a support lever pivotally connected to the inboard bottom of a boat with a motor mounting plate or bracket adapted for locking alignment with the transom of the boat to place the outboard motor in a position of use reltative to said boat.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description in the light of the drawings in which:

Fig. l is a partial longitudinal section of the stem end of a 'boat having the outboard motor support of the present invention installed therein.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the motorsupport and the stern anchoring means therefor. r Fig. 4 is a section and partial elevation of the stern anchoring means of Fig. 3 as seen from line 44 therein.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of Fig. 4.

' Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section through the support arm of Fig. 1 'as seen substantially along line 6-6 of the dotted line portion thereof so as to show the support given the motor when the arm is in that (ineffective) position.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the outboard'motor support 10 is shown installed in a boat B in such a manner as to eliminate unnecessary lifting and/or exertion in positioning a motor M inboard or outboard of the boat.

The motor support 10 comprises a hinged arm or lever 11 journaled on a boss 12 secured by bolts or the like to the bottom F of the boat B in alignment with the keel Kv thereof. The arrangement is such that the lever 11 swings in a fore and aft direction in a vertical plane aligned'with the keel K. To this end the boss 12 is secured slightly forward of the transom T at the stern S ofthe boat B so that the lever 11 is at all times inboard I when in either of its two positions within the boat.

: A support bracket 15 is pivotally connected as at 16 to the upper end of the lever 11 so as to articulate, i.e., swing in the same plane as the lever 11 but at the end of the same. This support bracket 15 includes a mounting plate 17 extending transversely of the arc of movement of the bracket and lever 11 so as to be disposed parallel to the transom T as best seen in Figs. 2 and 3. Means 20 is provided on the transom T and mounting 17 for lockingly securing the two together for supporting an outboard motor in driving position at the stern of the boat. The opposite end 21 of the bracket 15 is provided with a securing eye 22 adapted to register with an anchor eye 23 secured to the bottom F of the boat for securing the lever 11 with outboard motor thereon inboard of the boat as seen in dotted lines Fig. 1.

Having thus generally explained the essential elements of the present invention we shall now proceed to describe each part in specific detail.

The pivot boss 12 for the arm 11 comprises a pair of spaced ears 25 formed on a plate 26 so as to project upwardly therefrom. This plate 26 is secured by bolts 13 to the floor F of the boat as best seen in Figs. 1 and 2.

The lever arm 11 is preferably cast metal of suitable strength and resistance to corrosion. This arm is of U-shaped cross section, as best seen in Fig. 6, to provide a rounded spine 27 with open legged sides 2828' on its opposite or back edge. At each end of the arm 11 the lever is provided with a boss 29 and 30, respectively. These bosses which are identical each extend transversely of the U shape of arm 11. Both bosses 29 and 30 are axially bored to receive a stud shaft 31 and 32, resp'ectively.

The boss 29 is disposed between the cars 25 of the pivot boss 12 and the stud shaft 31 extends through both cars 25 as well as the axial bore of boss 29 to pivotally mount the lever arm 11 within the boat B. The stud shaft 31 is suitably secured in the position stated and is preferably peened to prevent removal other than intentionally for repairs or replacement.

The support bracket 15 is also preferably cast from a metal which will resist corrosion. This bracket 15 is a double yoke casting having a mid bar or brace 35 between its fore and aft ends. The forward yoke 36 consists of a pair of legs 37-37' spaced to receive between them the boss 30 at the free end of lever arm 11. These legs 37-37' are provided with aligned bosses adapted to register with the bore in the boss 30 so as to receive the stud shaft 32 for pivotally securing the bracket 15 to the upper end of the arm 11 as at 16.

These two forwardly extending legs 3737' are each offset outwardly, i.e., laterally to receive a handle bar 33 between them sumciently ahead of the boss 30 so that the bar 38 can be grasped by a human hand. One of the legs '37 extends forwardly sufiiciently to be bored so as to provide the eye 22, previously mentioned.

The yoke 39 at the aft end of the casting 15 consists of a pair of legs 40-46 extending rearwardly from the mid bar or brace 35. These legs til 40 are formed integrally with the mounting plate 17 already mentioned. The mounting plate 17 is disposed parallel to the brace 35 and in spaced relation thereto substantially rearwardl'y' thereof. This mounting plate 17 is a solid block of metal having a thickness corresponding substantially to the com ventional thickness of the transom T of a boat.

As previously stated, this mounting block or plate 17 is adapted to have keyed or looking connection with the transom of the boat, and in fact actually becomes a part thereof in accordance with the present invention.

To this end it will be noted in Fig. 1 that the mount ing plate 17 is adapted to be received within the jaws of the mounting clamps C provided on conventional ourboard motors. In this manner the motor M. as illustrated in the drawings, is actually carried by the support In accordance with the present invention a portion of the transom T is cut away as at 45 so as to be replaced by the mounting plate 17 when the latter is placed thereon. The means 20 for locking the mounting plate 17 on the transom T includes a saddle 46 forming a frame or protection for the edges at the cutaway 45 in the transom T. This saddle 46, as shown clearly in perspective Fig. 3 and in partial detail Figs. 4 and 5, is of U shape to provide an elongated bight 47 between upstanding legs 48-48 embedded into the side walls of the cutaway 45 in the transom T. These legs 48-48 have lateral extensions or wings 49-49, respectively, partially embedded into the upper edge E of the transom .T. The upper surfaces 50 and 50 of these lateral wings 49-49 are disposed in the same plane, i.e., level with each other. The saddle 46 is secured to the transom T by means of wood screws 51, three through the bight portion 47 and one each through the respective wings 49-49.

As best illustrated in Fig. 4, the top surface 52 of the bight portion 47 is disposed at an obtuse angle relative to a line I struck transversely of the transom T, the inclination being 7 from line I at the aft face of the transom toward the fore or inboard face of the same. The same angular disposition is afforded at the inside faces 53-53 of the upstanding legs 49-49, respectively, of the saddle 46. This is detailed in Fig. which shows the port side only of the saddle, the starboard side thereof being the same excepting that the angle of the face 53 thereof is reversed. By this arrangement a tapered socket or recess 55 is provided by the saddle 46 into which the aft end of the support bracket is receivable.

The aft end of the support bracket 15 is correspond ingly tapered to fit into the tapered recess 55 just explained. In other words, the outside faces 54-54 at the free ends of legs -40 of the aft yoke 39 are so disposed as to become wedged into engagement with the angular inside faces 53-53 of the legs 49-49 of the saddle. This is also true of the bottom face 56 of the mounting plate 17 so that when the corresponding faces of the male member, the support bracket 15, engage those of the female member, the saddle 46, the mounting plate 17 will be coplanar with the transom T.

It should here be noted that with the motor M clamped to the mounting plate 17, the weight of the motor and the direction in which the lever arm 11 is leaning tends to jamb the outside tapered faces of the support bracket 15 into firm engagement with the inside tapered faces of the saddle member 46.

In order to resist binding of the support member 15 relative to the saddle 46 the inside faces 53 and 53 of the upstanding legs 49-49 on the saddle are each provided with a projection 57-57, respectively, adjacent the aft face of the saddle and/or transom to which it is secured. The outside faces 54-54 of the legs 40-40 on the support bracket 15 are likewise provided with projections 58-58 which abut the projections 57-57 respectively. These corresponding projections 57 and 58 as well as 57 and 58 serve to prevent misalignment of the mounting plate 17 relative to the transom T and to assure alignment of the two with each other.

Each wing member 49-49 on the saddle 46 has a recess 59 formed in its upper surface 50-50 to receive the eye end of an eye bolt 60-60 respectively. The eye end of each such bolt is pivotally secured in the recess 59 by a pin 61 extending in a fore to aft direction 4 through the wing member 49-49 so that the eye bolts 60-60 will swing in a plane transverse to the boat B, i.e., parallel to the plane in which the transom T is disposed.

Each side of the support member 15 is provided with a laterally extending ear member 62-62 at the ends of the mounting plate 17. Each ear member 62-62 has an open ended slot 63 formed therein in alignment with the mounting plate 17 so as to receive the eye bolt 60 or 60 adjacent the same when the ear members overlie the respective wing members 49-49 as seen in Fig. 2. Wing nuts N on the eye bolts 60-60 are then turned down upon the respective ears 62-62. In this manner the support bracket 15 is lockingly secured to the transom T with the motor M positioned in the conventional manner for propelling the boat B through the water.

An auxiliary handle 65 is provided on the handle end of the fore yoke 36. The auxiliary handle 65 comprises a cross bar 66 secured to two leg-like levers 67-67 adapted to straddle the legs 37-37 of the yoke 36. This auxiliary handle 65 is mounted for oscillation between two desirable positions by being pivotally mounted on the fore yoke 36 by means of a pin or shaft 68 extending through the handle bar 38, the two legs 37-37 of the yoke 36, and the free ends of the leg-like levers 67-67 of the auxiliary handle 65. Means for limiting oscillation of the auxiliary handle between its two desirable positions consists of a segmental lug 69 on each leg 37-37 of the yoke 36 providing faces 70-70 radially disposed relative to the axis of the shaft 68. The free end of each leg-like lever 67-67 has a cutaway portion providing radially disposed faces 71-71 adapted to engage one or the other of the radial faces 70 or 70 on the lug 69. The lug 69 has its radial faces 70-70 disposed at a lesser angle with respect to each other than the open angle (210) between the radially disposed faces 71-71 on the cutaway portion of the free ends of the leg-like levers 67-67 of auxiliary handle 65. In this manner the auxiliary handle 65 is free to swing approximately between two desired positions now to be explained.

The normal position of the auxiliary handle 65 is parallel to the main support arm 11 of the motor support 10. This is clearly shown in full lines Fig. 1. Now when the motor M is to be drawn inboard a person can grasp either the handle bar 38 or the cross bar 66 of the auxiliary handle 65. Of course the wing nuts N are first unscrewed and the eye bolts 60-60 swung out of the slots 63 of the ear members 62-62. When a person now pulls back on the cross bar 66 of the auxiliary handle the aft end of the support bracket 15 is lifted out of the tapered recess 55 in the saddle 46. This lift is assisted by the arc of swing of the main support lever 11 as indi cated by the arrow a in Fig. 1. The outboard motor M must of course clear the transom T on this forward swing of the lever 11 so it will be appreciated that little or no rearward articulation can occur between the support bracket 15 relative to the main support lever 11. However, when the outboard motor M is well within the boat B, and the lever arm 11 is leaning forwardly, i.e., ahead of its connection to the pivot boss 12 at stud shaft 31, the fore, cutting edge G of the outboard motor will swing toward the lever arm 11 and come to rest in a cradle 75 (Figs. 1 and 6) on the open back face of the lever arm 11. This cradle 75 is provided with suitable cushioning material such as rubber or the like so as to protect the cutting edge G of the motor. It should here be noted that the lower propeller end of the outboard motor M will just overlie the pivot boss 12 secured to the bottom of the boat.

With the motor M and lever 11 in this position, the support bracket 15 will be disposed at its extreme rearmost position relative to the lever arm 11. The auxiliary handle 65 will be in its extreme operative position too,

so that the entire lever 11 with motor resting in the cradle '75 can be lowered toward (dotted line position Fig. 1) the floor F of the boat. In this manner the eye formation 22. on the fore yoke 36 will be positioned adjacent the anchor eye 23 secured to the bottom F inboard of the boat B. With these two eyes 22 and 23 in register with each other the bolt or hasp of a padlock can extend through them so as to lock the support and motor M inboard of the boat.

The motor M may be locked to the support bracket by means of a chain or perhaps the clamps C by which the motor is secured to the mounting plate 17 could be provided with barrel looks so that the motor could not be removed from the bracket 15 other than by a person having the proper key.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that we have provided a novel motor support for outboard motors facilitating positioning of such motor either inboard during non use and/ or outboard for conventional use in connection with a boat.

While we have described our new motor support in specific detail it will be appreciated that it is susceptible to alterations, modifications and/or variations Without departing from the spirit of our invention. We therefore desire to avail ourselves of all alterations, modifications and/or variations as fairly come within the purview of the appended claims.

What We claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a boat having a bottom and a transom stern, means for securing an outboard motor to said boat for optional positioning either inboard or outboard relative to the transom thereof comprising a pair of spaced ears secured to the bottom of said boat and inboard thereof, a lever arm having one end pivotally connected to said spaced ears, a support bracket pivotally mounted on the free end of said lever arm, said support bracket having a motor mounting plate adapted to become aligned with said transom when said lever is swung toward the latter, said transom having a recess formed therein, a saddle in said recess formed in said transom for receiving and aligning said mounting plate with said transom, and means for lockingly securing said mounting plate in said saddle.

2. A support for securing an outboard motor for optionally positioning inboard and outboard relative to a boat having a bottom and a transom stern comprising a lever arm pivotally mounted on the bottom of said boat and inboard thereof just ahead of said transom stern thereof, a support bracket pivotally mounted on the free end of said lever arm, said support bracket comprising a yoke aft of its pivotal mounting on said lever arm, a mounting plate transversely of said aft yoke receivable in the conventional mounting clamps of an outboard motor, a recess formed in said transom, a saddle mounted in the recess of said transom for receiving said mounting plate and for mounting the same in alignment with said transom, a pair of ears formed on said aft yoke at the opposite ends of said mounting plate, and an eye bolt pivotally connected to each end of said saddle in register with said pair of ears on said aft yoke for securing said mounting plate in said saddle in alignment with said transom.

3. The combination with a lever arm pivotally mounted on the bottom of a boat inboard and ahead of the transom stern thereof, a support for securing an outboard motor to said boat for positioning said motor inboard and outboard relative to the transom thereof at the option of the user comprising a support bracket pivotally mounted on the free end of said lever arm having a mounting plate receivable in the conventional mounting clamps of an outboard motor, said mounting plate having tapered bottom and end edges, a saddle having tapered bottom and side walls for wedgingly receiving said mounting plate, the transom of said boat being notched out to receive said saddle, means for securing said saddle into the notched out transom, said mounting plate having slotted wings, and means on said saddle engageable with said slotted Wings for securing said mounting plate in wedging engagement with said transom.

4. The combination with a boat having a bottom and an aft transom, a support for securing an outboard motor to said boat for positioning said motor inboard and outboard thereof at the option of the user comprising a lever arm pivotally mounted on the bottom of said boat inboard thereof, a support bracket pivotally mounted on the free end of said lever arm having a mounting plate adapted to receive the conventional mounting clamps of an outboard motor for securing the same thereto, a recessed saddle formed on the transom of said boat, said saddle being adapted to receive and support said mounting plate in alignment with said transom, and means for securing said mounting plate in the position aforesaid within said saddle.

5. In combination with a boat bottom and the transom stern thereof, means for securing an outboard motor to said boat for optional positioning either inboard or outboard relative to the transom thereof comprising a pair of spaced ears secured to the bottom of said boat inboard thereof, a lever arm having one end pivotally connected to said spaced ears, a support bracket pivotally mounted on the free end of said lever arm, said bracket having a motor mounting plate adapted to become aligned with said transom when said lever is swung toward the latter, said transom being recessed, a saddle in the recessed transom for receiving and aligning said mounting plate with said transom, means for lockingly securing said mounting plate in said saddle comprising a pair of ears on said mounting plate, and swivel wing bolts swivelly mounted on said saddle and engageable with the ears on said mounting plate.

6. A support for securing an outboard motor to a boat having a bottom and an aft transom for optionally positioning said motor inboard and outboard of said boat adjacent the transom end thereof comprising a lever arm pivotally mounted on the bottom of said boat inboard thereof, a support bracket pivotally connected to the free end of said lever arm, said support bracket comprising a yoke having a mounting plate transversely thereof receivable in the conventional mounting clamps of an outboard motor, said transom stern being cut away to receive said mounting plate in alignment therewith, and a saddle frame forming protective edges at the cut away in said transom and providing a tapered socket, said support bracket having its edges tapered to correspond and to fit into the tapered socket provided by said saddle frame, and means for releasably securing said support bracket to said saddle frame in alignment with said transom stern.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,824,822 Kradolfer Sept. 29, 1931 2,119,281 Luders May 31, 1938 2,436,713 Cody Feb. 24, 1948 2,475,889 Hafele July 12, 1949 

